Preassembled press fit connector with assembly insert

Abstract

A preassembled press fit connector and method of mounting the same on a printed circuit board in an array of plated thru holes comprises a selectively configured connector housing and first and second adjacent rows of contacts mounted within the housing. Each contact has a press shoulder portion within the housing and a press fit section extending downwardly below of the housing. A removable insert includes a plate portion for defining an external connector press surface above the housing and first and second rows of integral teeth extending downwardly into the housing. The rows of teeth engage one each with the press shoulder portions of the first and second row of contacts. This allows the press fit sections of the contacts to be simultaneously forced into mating engagement with the plated thru holes of the printed circuit board by applying pressure to the external connector press surface presented by the removable insert.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A preassembled press fit connector for mounting on a printed circuit board in an array of plated thru holes comprising: a selectively configured connector housing,   first and second adjacent rows of contacts mounted within said housing,   a press shoulder formed on each said contact within said housing,   a press fit section formed on each said contact extending downwardly below said housing, and   a removable insert formed from thin sheet stock and having an inverted U shape mounted within said housing and being axially supported soley by said first and second rows of contacts, said insert means comprising:   a plate portion defining an external connector press surface above said housing, and   first and second rows of integral teeth extending downwardly from said plate portion and engaging one each with said press shoulders of said first and second rows of contacts, whereby a force applied to the external press surface of the insert is transfered by said first and second rows of integral teeth and whereby the press fit sections of a plurality of press fit connectors may be simultaneously forced into mating engagement with the plated thru holes of the printed circuit board by applying pressure with the flat pressing surface of a press head to the external connector press surfaces presented by the removable inserts in said plurality of preassembled press fit connectors, said press head being withdrawn from said connector independently of said removable insert whereby the press head must be withdrawn from said removable insert prior to said removable insert being removed from said connector.   
     
     
       2. The preassembled press fit connector of claim 1, further comprising: vertical housing slots providing access to said contact press shoulders from the top surface of the connector housing, said vertical housing slots constraining the teeth of the removable insert whereby said thin teeth are able to transmit force from said press head to said press shoulders.   
     
     
       3. A method for mounting a plurality of preassembled press fit connectors onto a printed circuit board having rows of plated thru holes, each connector having a removable insert formed from thin sheet stock, having the shape of an inverted U, and defining a flat, external press surface on the top of each connector comprising: loosely inserting a plurality of connectors into the rows of thru holes of the circuit board,   applying a pressing force to the flat connector press surfaces of the loosely inserted connectors with press means having a flat press surface which is parallel to the circuit board and nonfixed to and movable independently of said removable insert press surface,   withdrawing the press means flat press surface from the removable insert press surface,   removing the inserts from the connectors.